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Designer Fati Asibelua must have been in a great mood when she designed this collection and it sure is infectious. Lots of tie dye motifs, colourful graphic stripes, and eye catching geometric details rejuvenate a collection that infuses a lot of African into splendid silhouettes that glided on the runway.

There is an unmistakable vibe of elegant nonchalance that this collection evokes. The re- occuring classic pencil skirt with layered mix and match twinset blouses, re-occuring bubble hem, maxi skirt/dresses and the traditional African kaftan, all celebrate the woman who is not afraid to to wear print all through. Fati Asibelua’s vision is brought to life – it is a “contemporary urban African mix of vibrant prints, contrasting textures and futuristic streamlined shapes” and we hope this is here to stay.

Asibelua - Arise Magazine Made in Africa. Photo Credit: Zimbio.Com

Asibelua Made in Africa. Photo Credit: Zimbio.Com

SHF Credits Zimbio.Com

SHF Review: Jewel By Lisa “Arise: Made in Africa”

Style House — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 05:37:14 +0000

Jewel By Lisa’s show was full of heady nostalgia. The collection tells a story of designer Lisa Folawiyo’s inspiration for the collection – an atmosphere of Nigeria in the 60′s captivated in her reference for the collection (“traditional menswear and classic garments or pieces from that era created into ultra-feminine pieces for today’s woman”), choice of colours, exquisite guipure lace lined with beautiful print motifs, fabrics and impressions all recalled and represented by Lagos, Nigeria in the 60′s. We absolutely love the fact that she tells us a story that references Nigeria this season. It was definitely well thought out from concept, execution to final delivery, we see the new Jewel by Lisa and it is here to stay.

A new kind of sophistication took hold of the designer who made the embellishment of ankara covetable and in demand. Detailed hand embellishments displays Jewel By Lisa’s artisanal know how and craftsmanship as seen in the tailored pieces, classic shifts, draped mini and cocktail dresses encrusted with the house’s signature beading.

Not only is there an emphasis on spectacular pieces here, it is a complete wardrobe which goes a long way in preventing a designer’s work from being one dimensional. From the choice of ideal to simple shapes that the uber chic woman favours without ever being boring, no doubt Jewel By Lisa’s best is within every style reach.

Jewel By Lisa Arise Made in Africa. Photo Credit: Zimbio.Com

SHF Credits Zimbio.Com

SHF Review: Lanre Da Silva Ajayi “Arise Magazine: Made in Africa”

Style House — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:27:40 +0000

Beautiful! Lanre Da Silva Ajayi’s collection “Labour of Love” is simply put – stunning! A collection punctuated with ultra feminine sophisticated pieces that embodies romanticsm in the use of delicate ladylike details – crocheted lace hemlines, lots of use of detailed floral lace embroidery underlined with sumptuous silk fabrics. The atmosphere here is not all completely soft. Lanre’s mix of tweed with silks, lace and use of construction techniques like weaving gives a hint of structure and architecture – the designer’s intention.

Lanre continues from where we she left off last season but takes her use of fabrication to a different level with this collection. Carefully embeds her luxurious silk prints with her first love – lace, we see a lot of fringe like details on some of the pieces and cant wait to get a feel of them.

We absolutely adore the fact that despite the details employed by the designer to deliver her collection this season, there is still an underlying simplicity which is what sets the tone for a refined collection for a woman who favours classic, simple silhouettes and allows the details to do all the talking.

Lanre Da Silva Ajayi - "Arise: Made in Africa." Photo Credit: Zimbio. Com

About Labour Of Love

The collection takes after trends of bright clashing looks and boasts of a refined lady-like silhouette that is infused with fresh ideas. It features modern classic cuts and architecture. Each piece has a strong influence of architecture to bring about the striking structured looks that have made use of traditional tailoring techniques of pleating, weaving and draping but from an architectural point of view.

The choice of fabrics are excellent for the season and include Graphic Butterfly Prints, Silks, Tweed and of course LDA’s signature Lace and Lace trimmings. The colours are bright and scream Summer- they come in green, pink, purple, and the classic black.

The inspiration for this collection was got from a beautiful little town of Tuscany in Italy that Lanre-creative designer of the label visited a while back. The collection is hugely inspired by the 16th-century walls of Italy‘s most beautiful architecture, the antique markets and stunning nearby villas around the surrounding hills and the beaches around the area in a smaller town called Lucca. Lanre has brought about a mix of the architecture of Italy with the vibrancy of Africa and in particular Nigeria, which is evident in the choice of colours. As Africans we are not afraid to embrace bright and eye catching colours, it’s part of the culture to stand out and LDA has taken that part of Africa and the architecture of Italy and brought them together in what you see in this collection.

The collection makes use of the colour blocking trend as seen in a mix of silks and lace trimmings in the dresses, skirts, jackets and blouses, a mix of lace and silk tweed dresses, shorts in lace and silk tweed, and straight tweed trousers. The highlight of this collection is the use of delicate butterfly prints that has been carefully cut to produce beautiful pieces in dresses, skirts and blouses. According to Lanre “it’s very a African and younger Jackie Kennedy Onassis, so it’s classic but also young and edgy”. The finale looks are classic couture pieces of wedding-like long and short dresses with petal trimmings on them to the hilt.

SHF Credits Zimbio

SHF Review: Bunmi Koko SS2012 “Arise Magazine Made in Africa”

Style House — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 16:58:13 +0000

“…Exaggerated silhouettes, belted waists, winged sleeves, draping, versatility, translucency, fluidity and Bunmi Koko’s signature longitudinal caissons. As well as unusual textiles, an aquatic palette, tassels, lace embroideries, organza, chiffon and satin…” All details Bunmi Koko listed as elements to watch out for in her collection.

The designer opts for a different direction this season and plays with fluidity instead of structure. The collection evokes a pretty, fresh sort of girl next door appeal that adds an easy vibe to a colour filled wardrobe. Neat, simple and flawlessly architectural, (though not as detailed as previous collections) with added cruise connotations via braided chord tassels – a re-occurring element we see as necklace, wrist accessory and belt. Bunmi Koko’s “Sirens” definitely know the recipe for seduction for next season – delicately soft, light, feminine and easy to wear pieces.

Bunmi Koko SS2012 Photo Credit: Zimbio.Com

Bunmi Koko SS 2012. Photo Credit - Zimbio.Com

SHF Review: Pierre Antoine Veterello SS2012 “Arise Magazine: Made in Africa”

Style House — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 12:54:51 +0000

French-Ivorien designer Pierre Antoine Veterello’s SS2012 collection had a welcome casualness underlying its ultra flirty silhouettes and spiced up by his innovative work in material (you can’t ignore the extra details – sculpted like elements embedded into some of the pieces).

Minis and shorts rivaled one another with a modern urban fashion spirit that can only be reserved for a woman who likes a bit of drama. The sensuality of it all came through in the choice of silks and suedes employed by the designer to communicate his vision – clothes for the woman who appreciates the element of neat precise silhouettes with that extra punch.

Pierre Antoine Veterello SS 2012. Photo Credit - Zimbio.Com

Pierre Antoine Veterello SS2012. Photo Credit Zimbio.Com

SHF Credits Zimbio

SHF Review: Tsemaye Binitie – NYFW SS2012 “Arise Magazine Made in Africa”

Style House — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 21:15:23 +0000

SHF is a great fan of Tsemaye Binitie’s aesthetic for its ability to communicate that less is more ideology and point of view that we choose to describe as minimalist elegance. The collection shows that simplicity need not mean a lack of femininity – his love for celebrating the stunning young woman still comes through the use of uncompromising cuts, detailed construction, extra slim silhouettes, draping and our favourite details of next season – asymmetry and sheerness.

Love the play with soft, delicate, sheer fabrication – immodest you might call it but we absolutely love the way they floated over bodies to reveal skin and infinitely long legs. The choice of fabric – silks, cotton poplins, neoprene…, confirms the intention of this wardrobe – light, delicate and refined. He opts for his favourite colour palette – bright whites, icy neutrals, soft black and infuses it with a burst of colour that’s set to be SS2012 favourite.

Tsemaye’s one to watch out for. Each season, he builds on his point of view as a designer – a subtly refined style best expressed with a play of solid colours, a few chosen details and a degree of insouciance that he always succeeds in evoking from his models on the runway.

Tsemaye Binitie SS 2012 Arise Magazine: Made in Africa. Photo Credit: Zimbio.Com

Tsemaye Binitie SS 2012 Arise Magazine: Made in Africa. Photo Credit: Zimbio.Com

Tsemaye Binitie SS 2012 Arise Magazine: Made in Africa. Photo Credit: Zimbio.Com

SHF Review: Kluk CGDT – NYFW SS2012 “Arise Magazine: Made In Africa”

Style House — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 07:45:09 +0000

Kluk CGDT appeared to be paying tribute to a dreamy vision of next season. The designer toyed with the female form using mostly simple silhouettes, softened even further with his choice of sheer fabrics which lends it all an ethereal, whimsical, delicate quality. Other than the waist, nothing was restricted, it all breathed an air of freedom.

As for colours, the design team duo opted for SS 2012′s ink, nude, icy neutrals and pastel colours. The floral applique and lace cut out details adds a bit of interest to some of the looks in the collection and makes it all very romantic, soft, sensual and as gentle as a summer garden’s gentle caress. Not our favourite Kluk collection till date but it’s still very much Kluk. After all, sometimes its the ability to maintain a a house’s signature that’s important not focusing on the fashion. Right?

Kluk CGDT SS2012 NYFW: Arise Made in Africa. Photo Credit - Zimbio.Com